The Stonemasons' Guild of St. Stephen
Education Services
Another of The Guild’s core objectives is to broaden the understanding of our craft, culture and heritage. We seek to educate as wide an audience as possible and commit our time and resources to providing public lectures, practical demonstrations and literature to this end. We are pleased to work with museums, educational institutions, galleries and other public and private organisations through which we can extend our audience.
Please contact the Guild by email in the first instance to enquire about our educational outreach services. A summary of the educational services we are experienced in providing is given below:
Practical Workshops
These can focus on understanding basic tools, methods and materials of stonemasonry or on more specific techniques. If enough time is allowed, delegates can be guided through the whole process of making a decorative carved piece, through which they will experience several techniques (setting out, flat-surfacing, working an arris). Group numbers from 4 to 12 are comfortably managed. Workshop content can be adapted to meet the needs of learners from young school age upwards.
Study Days
As an opportunity to delve more deeply into stonemasonry craft knowledge and theory, a themed study day can be an invaluable experience. Enquiries may come from specialist art and antiques galleries, from architects, designers, historians or other special interest groups.
A day can be structured to incorporate practical experience, guided tours of a building or site of interest (where relevant) and a seminar from a Master Stonemason. Following a preparatory discussion about the desired learning outcomes of the day, the activities and content can be tailored more specifically.
“It was so fantastic to meet the Master Stonemason and learn about this ancient craft and how the traditions are carried on to this day…..it made the hands on experience so meaningful.
I just really loved the stonemasons in Bath. Such a privilege to learn from them and see their commitment to preserving the role and all the skills…(they) were engaging and generous with their time.”
-Attendees of Open Palaces Group Study Day, 2019
Craft Demonstrations
For events with large visitor numbers, a group of Guild masons can give live demonstrations of craft techniques. The work and display content can be adapted to suit various themes (e.g. with a focus on geology, history, hand tools or specific styles of architecture). The Guild members are practised at engaging with visitors of all ages and can field questions on all aspects of the craft.
Media Content
The Guild have interviewed for various newspaper and magazine articles and have featured in TV and radio programmes and educational films. Please contact us if you are involved in similar productions and publications and would be interested in featuring The Guild or our work.
Seminars by the Guild Master
Dr. Stephen L’Normand occupies a place in a Duodecian, as one of twelve Guild Masters in the world. His doctoral research was in the field of sacramental geometry and metaphysics in architectural design. As Master Stonemason, he has worked on some of the most prestigious, protected and unique buildings worldwide, including: Doge’s Palace, Venice, Somerset House, Queen’s House, Greenwich and Windsor Castle. He was awarded a Blue Ribbon from The Academy of Free Stonemasons for his time as Master of Works at Stoneleigh Abbey. He is widely regarded to be the finest living English Baroque stone carver and has produced fine stone pieces for an extensive portfolio of notable clients.
He has devoted recent years to the protection and development of training in stonemasonry and stone carving in several countries and is based in the UK, where he oversees the training of a select group of Guild stonemasonry apprentices.
Dr. L’Normand has spoken on a range of subjects around the craft, culture and history of stonemasonry including:
- the civil arts as applied to craft training,
- harmonic proportion,
- the mechanics and physicality of the practice of stonemasonry,
- the enhancement of wellbeing through craft practice and the crafted environment,
- the theory of craftsmanship,
- team management and education within crafts,
- the social and political history of stonemasonry and stonemasons’ guilds.
The Stonemasons' Guild of St. Stephen Limited Registration number: 5069
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